The
Gambia National team, the Scorpions, on 8 August 2016 started intensive
preparations for their crunch 2017 African Cup of Nations Group M Qualifier
Fixtures away to Cameroon next month.
The
Scorpions under the guidance of coach Sang Ndong resumed training with the
local-based players and would be joined by few foreign-based players before
their travel to Yaoundé, where they will clash with Cameroon in the continent’s
biggest football fiesta qualifiers set for September 4, 2016.
Coach
Sang Ndong is expected to gather a full squad against the Indomitable Lions,
who have already qualified for the Finals in Gabon after their 1-0 win over
Mauritania in June 2016, the Scorpions will be playing for pride after
occupying bottom place in group M of the qualifiers.
The
Gambia are rooted at the bottom of the
group with only 2 points in five games after drawing two games against South
Africa and Mauritania, before losing to Cameroon, Mauritania and South Africa
1-0, 2-1 and 4-0 respectively.
Mauritania
are second in group M of the 2017 African Cup of Nations with 7 points in five
games, South Africa are third with 6 points in five games.
It
would be recalled it that Cameroon beat The Gambia 1-0 in the first leg of the
2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers played at the Independence Stadium in
Bakau on 5 September 2015, courtesy of FC Porto striker Vincent Abubakarr from
Benjamin Mokandjo’s brilliant pass after capitalizing on Pa Modou Jagne
defensive blunder to fire home the opener, which eventually proved to be the
winner for the Indomitable Lions.
